Identification locket



April 20, 1965 w. ZIMMERMAN 3,178,842

IDENTIFICATION LOCKET Filed Oct. 16. 1961 INVENTOR WILLIAM ZIMMERMAN ATTO R N EY United States Patent 3,178,842 IDENTIFICATION LOCKET William Zimmerman, 156 State St., Perth Amboy, N3. Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,191 3 Claims. (Cl. 40-10) The present invention relates to a device designed to be carried on the person and which contains medical as Well as personal information for completely identifying the person carrying the device. More specifically, the device provides facilities for protectively encasing and storing a relatively large amount of pertinent identification information in a compact manner and instantaneously displaying the information in a readily readable form.

Personal identification is no longer a matter of merely determining the name and address of a person. The medical profession has long recognized the need for an identification record to be carried on the person that would provide pertinent medical information pertaining to that person. The current emphasis on civil defense and precautions that must be taken to meet the possibility of a nuclear holocaust underlines the necessity for a device which would furnish the means for carrying such information in a practical manner. To fill this need, I have devised an identification locket which may conveniently be carried on the person and which contains the desired identification information. In case of a catastrophe or any emergency where a person would require immediate medical treatment, the device of the invention would instantaneously provide information concerning allergies to specific drugs so as to prevent the administration of such drugs as horse serum, penicillin, bee sting, tetanus, antitoxin, cortisone or related steroids and the like where such administration would be harmful. pertaining to blood type and to conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, glaucoma, hemophilia, multiple sclerosis and cardiac conditions may also be recorded in the device. In addition, if the owner of the device normally wears eye glasses, his prescription may be recorded. If the carrier of the device is taking anti-coagulants, is Wearing an artificial larynx because of surgery, is wearing contact lenses or is engaged in some occupation that may have some specific effect upon his physical condition such as, for example,deep sea diving, these special circumstances may be recorded in the device so that a treating physician would immediately have access to information that could save the life of the person carrying such a device.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a compact device which will store a great deal of medical as well as personal identification information and will instantaneously display the information in a readily readable form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will protect and preserve the above information While being easily and conveniently carried on the person.

The invention may briefly be described as an identification locket for storing and instantaneously displaying a miniature transcript of a record of identification information, the locket comprising a case capable of being opened and closed and having a magnifying lens as an element thereof, and means for mounting the transcript for movement between a closed position wherein the transcript is protectively encased within the case when the case is closed and an open position wherein the transcript is located at a fixed distance from the lens when the case is open so that the transcript may be read through the lens by the naked eye.

The novel features of the invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description of a preferred Information 0 3,178,842 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an identification locket of the invention in an open configuration;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the identification locket in a closed configuration; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevational view of the locket.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the above figures is comprised of a case having a back and a cover, indicated generally at 11 and 12 respectively, and means for mounting a miniature transcript of a record of identification information for movement between a closed position wherein the transcript lies enveloped in the case and an open position as will be more particularly pointed out hereinafter. As may readily be seen in FIGURE 1, the back 11 has opposite ends 14a and 14b, opposite sides 15 and bottom 16. Sides 15 are walls formed integral with bottom 16 and are substantially perpendicular to bottom 16.

Cover 12 is made up of face 17, opposite sides or walls 18 and ends 19a and 19b. An aperture 20 is formed in the face of the cover and a magnifying lens 21 is mounted therein. A pin 22 passes through sides 15 of the back adjacent end 14a and through sides 18 of the cover to mount the cover on the back for pivotal movement between an open position as shown in FIGURE 1 and a closed position as shown in FIGURE 2. The ends of pin 22 are slightly enlarged to hold the pin in place in the assembly. A helical spring 23 encircles pin 22 with one leg 24 abutting bottom 16 and the other leg 25 pressing against the inner surface of face 17 to resiliently urge cover 12 into its open position substantially perpendicular to back 11. At this point shoulder 26, which is formed by the intersection of end 19a with face 17 of the cover, will abut bottom 16 of the back thereby acting as a positive stop means to prevent movement of cover 12 beyond its proper open position.

Frame 27 is likewise mounted for pivotal movement adjacent end 14b of the back 11 by means of pin 29 passing through flanges 28 of the frame and sides 15 of the back. A helical spring 30 is located on pin 29 with leg 31 abutting bottom 16 and leg 32 pressing against frame 27 and resiliently urging the frame toward an open position substantially perpendicular to back 11 and parallel to cover 12. At this point shoulders 33 will abut bottom 16 thereby acting as a positive stop means to prevent movement of frame 27 beyond its proper open position.

Mounted in frame 27 is a microfilm transcript 34 of a record of identification information pertaining to the person who carries the identification locket. In addition to personal identification information such as name, address, social security number and the like, medical information concerning any illnesses, ailments, allergies, conditions or any other facts that may be of interest to a treating physician in case of emergency as hereinbefore more particularly pointed out'are recorded in the transcript. While the transcript is relatively small, i.e. one half inch wide by three-quarter inch high at the most, a great deal of information may be stored on the transcript due to the miniature nature of information recorded on microfilm. The microfilm transcript is accurately located in the frame laterally by flanges 28 and vertically by ledge 35. Frame-like retainer 36 is pressed against transcript 34 and releasably held in place by detents 37. In this way transcript 34 is fixed into .frame 27 but may be removed and replaced when necessary to keep the record of information up to date.

The identification locket is designed to be carried on the person in a closed configuration as illustrated in FIGURE 2. When the locket is closed, frame 27, carrying transcript 34, is Pivoted until the frame lies parallel and the transcript;

fabricated of metal to ensure rugged construction.

to the back 11 and is nestled between sides 15. Cover- 12 is pivoted until it lies parallel to back ll, sides 18 of the cover overlapping sides ofthe back.. The cover and 'back thus form la protective. case fin which-the; transcriptJ-is enveloped and stored;.until such "time as 1t may be needed. Detents 3.8 may be provided; .to act as catch means to'keep the cover and frame-inaclosed position *againstthe force of helical springs .23 and 30. Eyes 39 are provided at either end of the back to facilitate the carrying of, the locket case ,by the owner. The locket may be attached to a chain and worn like a charmon the wrist or around the. neck'or it may be carried on a. In addition, a pin or clip (not;

key chain or in a case. shown) may be fastened to the backtofix .theflocket onto anarticle of clothing. f

To open the locket for use, one need only insert a fingernail under the lip 40 formed in end 19b; of the cover to force, the' release of detents 38 and allowthe cover and frarne. to he urged into proper open position by the helical springs." The. positive stop .means pro.- vided by shoulders 26 and 3.3 are importantfeatures of the device. Since the locket is relatively small, it is necessary to accuratelymaintain a fixed distance between the lens and the transcript so that proper magnification will be accomplished. Thus, the combination ofthe helical springs 23 and with the shoulders 26'a'nd 33. serves to. eifectively fix the; positionof .cover 1232\nd. frame 27 and accurately determine the, distance between the. lens The construction'ofi the frame 27 and retainer 36' isv such that any available light is allowed to pass through the microfilm transcript. Lens 21 .is then in proper position to magnify the. record of information appearing on the transcript 34 and. all of the information may be read through the lens by the naked eye.

The component parts, of the. locket arev preferably The lens is formed of Plexiglas or other suitable plastic ma;- terials of an unbreakable or shatter-proof nature. Stainless steel or nickel plated brass construction, maybe employed to provide a utilitarian, corrosion resistant .strucjture while gold or silver plated parts may be employed for a more decorative locket. 7 Through the use. ofa minimum number of component parts arranged in the fashion illustrated, a small but effective device has been produced. The overall dimen sions of the locket, are no more than; one'and one-half .tov one and three-quarter inchesin length and about' three-quarter inch, in width' with a thickness of less than one-quarter of an inch. The lens itself need be only about one-half inch in diameter. Y

The embodiment of the invention illustrated and desaid face and opposite ends, said lens. being mounted in the. face of the cover, the back having opposite ends, opposite side walls and a bottom, said side Wallsof the back extending perpendicular to the bot- 1.

tom and' having inner and outer faces. perpendicular to the bottom;

(C) a frame having parallel flanges and an opening, means. on said frame for locating. the transparent transcript in proper positionin said opening in the frame;

'(D) a retainer for-releasably fastening the transparent transcript in said properposition in the frame;

I (E) means pivotally mounting the flanges of the frame 1 against, said inner faces ofthe opposite side Walls of the'back adjacent one of said ends of the back for 'movement between a closed-position wherein the frame is parallel withthe. back between the opposite side Wallswiththe flanges lying against said inner faces, and extending parallel with said inner races and an open'positio'n wherein. the .frame is perpendicular to'the bottom of the back;

said open position; q t (G) stop means located on the frame and cooperating Withthe bottomof-the' back-when the frame is in said open position to prevent movement of the frame beyond theopen position; 7

(H) means pivotally mountingtheopposite side walls .of the coveragainst said outer faces of the opposite side walls of the back adjacent the other of said opposite ends'of the back for movementbetween a closed position wherein the cover is parallel with the back and with the frame, the face of the cover being 'parallel'with the-bottom of the back and said outer faces" of said sidewalls of the back lying between the opposite side walls of the cover and against said side walls and the flanges of'the frame lying between the side walls of the. back and against said inner'faces, the side walls of said back and the fiangesextending perpendicular to the bottom of the back a distance great enough to abutthe face of the cover and preclude movement of the cover toward the back beyond said closedposition thereby nest ing the frame within the back and nesting the back within the cover to protectively envelopthe transparenttrans'criptwithin the case, and. an open position wherein said cover is perpendicular to the bottom, of the back; V

(I) spring" means resiliently urging the cover toward said open position;and 1 V (J) stop means located on the cover and cooperating with the back to'prevent movement'of the cover beyond said opening position, in which position the lens isj'placed at a'fixed distance from the frame so that light maypass through said opening the transparent transcript may be read .through the lens by I the naked eye. 7

2." An' identification locket of claim 1 including catch means located adjacent one" of said ends of the cover and one'of said. ends of the back, said means. cooperating to releasably hold the cover in said closed position against the urgingforce of the spring'means.

3. An-identification locket of clairn2 including means on at least one of said opposite ends of the back for allowing the locket to be readily attached to the person.

References Cited by theExaminer uNrrEi) STATES PATENTS 270,296. 1/83 Fosterj 83-19 296,741 4/84 Gould; v 63l9 1,063,209 6/13 Ording 40-153 X 2,043,409 7/50 Maiershofer 40--63 X 2,615,366 10/52 Rothweiler .40-.63 X 2,943,409 7/60 Maiershofer"; 40-62 3,076,276 2/ 63 Pitchford, v., 40-63 X JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

E. v. BENHAM, Examiner.

(F) spring means resiliently urging the frame toward 7 

1. AN IDENTIFICATION LOCKER FOR STORING AND INSTANTANEOUSLY DISPLAYING A MINIATURE TRANSPARENT TRANSCRIPT OF A RECORD OF IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION, SAID LOCKET COMPRISING: (A) A MAGNIFYING LENS; (B) A CASE INCLUDING A BACK AND A COVER, SAID COVER HAVING A FACE, OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FACE AND OPPOSITE ENDS, SAID LENS BEING MOUNTED IN THE FACE OF THE COVER, THE BACK HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS, OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM, SAID SIDE WALLS OF THE BACK EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOTTOM AND HAVING INNER AND OUTER FACES PREPENDICULAR TO THE BOTTOM; (C) A FRAME HAVING PARALLEL FLANGES AND AN OPENING, MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR LOCATING THE TRANSPARENT TRANSCRIPT IN PROPER POSITION IN SAID OPENING IN THE FRAME; (D) A RETAINER FOR RELEASABLY FASTENING THE TRANSPARENT TRANSCRIPT IN SAID PROPER POSITION IN THE FRAME; (E) MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE FLANGES OF THE FRAME AGAINST SAID INNER FACES OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS OF THE BACK ADJACENT ONE OF SAID ENDS OF THE BACK FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN THE FRAME IS PARALLEL WITH THE BACK BETWEEN THE OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS WITH THE FLANGES LYING AGAINST SAID INNER FACES, AND EXTENDING PARALLEL WITH SAID INNER FACES AND AN OPEN POSITION WHEREIN THE FRAME IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK; (F) SPRING MEANS RESILIENTLY URGING THE FRAME TOWARD SAID OPEN POSITION; (G) STOP MEANS LOCATED ON THE FRAME AND COOPERATING WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK WHEN THE FRAME IS IN SAID OPEN POSITION TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE FRAME BEYOND THE OPEN POSITION; (H) MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS OF THE COVER AGAINST SAID OUTER FACES OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS OF THE BACK ADJACENT THE OTHER OF SAID OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE BACK FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN THE COVER IS PARALLEL WITH THE BACK AND WITH THE FRAME, THE FACE OF THE COVER BEING PARALLEL WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK AND SAID OUTER FACES OF SAID SIDE WALLS OF THE BACK LYING BETWEEN THE OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS OF THE COVER AND AGAINST SAID SIDE WALLS AND THE FLANGES OF THE FRAME LYING BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS OF THE BACK AND AGAINST SAID INNER FACES, THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID BACK AND THE FLANGES EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK A DISTANCE GREAT ENOUGH TO ABUT THE FACE OF THE COVER AND PRECLUDE MOVEMENT OF THE COVER TOWARD THE BACK BEYOND SAID CLOSED POSITION THEREBY NESTING THE FRAME WITHIN THE BACK AND NESTING THE BACK WITHIN THE COVER TO PROTECTIVELY ENVELOP THE TRANSPARENT TRANSCRIPT WITHIN THE CASE, AND AN OPEN POSITION WHEREIN SAID COVER IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK; (I) SPRING MEANS RESILIENTLY URGING THE COVER TOWARD SAID OPEN POSITION; AND (J) STOP MEANS LOCATED ON THE COVER AND COOPERATING WITH THE BACK TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE COVER BEYOND SAID OPENING POSITION, IN WHICH POSITION THE LENS IS PLACED AT A FIXED DISTANCE FROM THE FRAME SO THAT LIGHT MAY PASS THROUGH SAID OPENING THE TRANSPARENT TRANSCRIPT MAY BE READ THROUGH THE LENS BY THE NAKED EYE. 